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On July 31, 2019, the California High-Speed Rail Authority and its design-build contractor Tutor-Perini/Zachry/Parsons (TPZP) opened two newly constructed overpasses on Avenue 8 and Avenue 11 in Madera County that allow traffic to travel over the high-speed rail system. This marks the first completed high-speed rail grade separations for Madera County.

“The completion of this overcrossing is a great step forward toward a positive working relationship with High-Speed Rail and Madera County,” said Brett Frazier, Madera County Supervisor. “We see the benefits of this and other projects in Madera County and are working closely with High-Speed Rail to collaborate and effect a mutually beneficial solution to any present and future construction jobs. This increased level of collaboration is essential to minimizing impacts to the residents of Madera County and the opening of all other roads impacted by construction.”

At Avenue 8, the overpass is located between State Route 99 and Road 33 and is over 110 feet long, 34 feet wide and reaches 44 feet at its highest point. The Avenue 11 overpass, between Road 31 and Road 32, is over 100 feet long, 34 feet wide and reaches 43 feet at its highest point.

“Today’s re-opening of Avenues 8 and 11 is a significant milestone for the project as we continue to work on and complete several more grade separations within the community of Madera,” said Diana Gomez, Central Valley Regional Director. “High-Speed Rail is committed to building and delivering the Central Valley system as quickly and safely as possible.”

Several small businesses took part in constructing the new grade separations including Becho, Inc., Landavazo Bros., Inc. Martinez Steel Corporation, Oliveira Fence, Inc., McCormick Biological, Inc., Avison Construction, Inc., Con-Fab California, Valverde Construction, Inc. and Safety Striping Service, Inc.

This project is part of Construction Package 1, the first 29-mile construction area that stretches from Avenue 17 in Madera County to East American Avenue in Fresno County. There are currently 21 active construction sites from Madera to Kern counties, with more than 300 certified small businesses working to build the Central Valley segment. To date, nearly 3,000 construction workers have been dispatched to the project.

Feet Long

Feet Wide

Feet at the highest point

Updates Per Project

July 27, 2019

Asphalt paving is now largely complete for the roadway leading up to the Avenue 8 overcrossing bridge, in preparation for the Madera County road’s reopening. Trucks filled with hot asphalt empty their loads into the front of a paving machine, which then lays out a slab of pavement about six-inches thick, as vibrating rollers compact it. Final pavement striping, drainage inlets, and guardrail installation are the last steps prior to reopening the road.

February 27, 2019

As at Avenue 11, the bridge deck for the Avenue 8 overcrossing in Madera County is mostly complete, but final paving for the approaches waits for better weather.

November 24, 2018

The bridge deck and the wing walls extending off the Avenue 8 overcrossing in Madera County have been poured and crews will next pour the traffic barrier along the sides of the structure. The block retaining walls have been completed on either side of the abutments and fill dirt placed to finish the slope leading up to the bridge. Utility conduit is also being installed for future utilities.

October 24, 2018

At Avenue 8 in Madera County, crews construct wing walls for the single span bridge east of State Route 99. Approximately 35,000 lbs. of deck rebar is being tied on the bridge deck. The bridge deck is currently scheduled to be poured in early October. The block retaining walls have been completed on either side of the abutments and fill dirt placed to finish the slope leading up to the bridge.

September 24, 2018

At Avenue 8 in Madera County, rebar is in place for a single span bridge east of State Route 99. Crews are working on the bridge wing walls and bridge deck rebar. The block retaining walls have been completed on either side of the abutments and fill dirt placed to finish the slope leading up to the bridge.

August 24, 2018

At Avenue 8 in Madera County, the precast deck panels which act as the underside (or soffit) of the bridge deck have been set and crews are tying deck rebar for a single span bridge east of State Route 99. The block retaining walls have been completed on either side of the abutments and fill dirt placed to finish the slope leading up to the bridge. The concrete deck pour will be completed after Avenue 11.

July 24, 2018

At Avenue 8 in Madera County, the precast deck panels, which act as the underside (or soffit) of the bridge deck, have been set and crews are tying deck rebar for a single span bridge that will cross the high-speed rail alignment east of State Route 99. The block retaining walls have been completed on either side of the abutments and fill dirt placed to finish the slope leading up to the bridge.

June 24, 2018

Girders have been set for the single span bridge at Avenue 8, which crosses the high-speed rail alignment east of State Route 99 in Madera County. The block wall leveling pads have been poured and fill-dirt is being compacted as the MSE blocks are being set for the retaining walls. Crews are currently forming and installing steel for the bridge diaphragms. Diaphragms stabilize the girders permanently and help improve load sharing of the bridge elements.

May 24, 2018

At Avenue 8, west of Road 33, girders were recently set for the one span bridge that will cross the high-speed train alignment. The MSE block wall leveling pad has been poured and the MSE blocks will start to be set this month. Crews are about to begin forming the bridge deck.

March 21, 2018

Abutment construction is underway for the overcrossing at Avenue 8. Crews have installed rebar and are now placing the concrete forms for the abutments that are going up just east of State Route 99 in Madera County. Fill dirt has already been brought to the site and will be tied into the structure that will eventually become a bridge to take traffic over the high-speed trains.